Retirement time has almost come for Lamine Diack. At 82 years old, the Senegalese will hand over the keys to his presidential office on August 18, 2015, on the occasion of the next Congress of the International Athletics Federation (IAAF). Present last week at the International Convention of Sport in Africa (CISA), organized in Kigali, Rwanda, he answered questions from FrancsJeux.
FrancsJeux : With what state of mind are you living your last months as President of the IAAF?
Lamine Diack : With relief. This has been going on for a long time. I already wanted to stop in 2011, but I let myself be convinced to continue for a new term. The IAAF celebrated its centenary in 2012, it would have been strange to attend only as a guest.
Where do you leave world athletics?
I think we did a good job. In 1999, our contracts were all coming to an end. We renegotiated them upwards. In 2010, rumors predicted, I don't know why, that the IAAF was going to close its doors. Today, we have no marketing problems. We have just renewed the contract with Dentsu until 2029. And we have achieved gender parity within the IAAF, whereas we were very far from it when I arrived.
When you look at how far you’ve come, what does your record inspire you?
I set myself the goal of making athletics even more universal and maintaining it at a high level in Europe. I believe that in both cases it was achieved.
Do you have any regrets?
I hoped to win the battle against doping. But it is impossible to win. I also wanted to see the United States host the outdoor world championships at least once. But they don't have a single real athletics stadium.
Eugene, the city of Oregon, was a candidate for the 2019 Worlds. However, the IAAF preferred Doha…
At each election for a host city for the Outdoor Worlds, we ask the candidates what more they can bring. For the 2015 edition, Beijing offered to pay the athletes' bonuses. This saves us $7 million. We chose Beijing. For 2019, we asked the Americans to present us with a letter of commitment from NBC guaranteeing coverage of the competition. They couldn't get it. On the other hand, Doha brought a new sponsor to the IAAF and offered to build around ten athletics tracks in countries that need them. We chose Doha.
What legacy will you leave in African athletics?
There are four languages on the continent, I have had four high-level training centers built. And the meeting in Rabat, Morocco, has a good chance of joining the Diamond League circuit next year. But I would have liked to do more. Africa has fabulous potential, but it must make more efforts to exploit it. It must view athletics as a product. By setting up, for example, a circuit of outdoor meetings during the winter. But Africa is not the only continent that needs to make efforts. The United States, Asia and the Caribbean should also create a circuit of meetings. Not to compete with the Diamond League, but to build a calendar. In the United States, athletics is reduced to trials, the World Championships and the Olympic Games. The rest does not exist.
How are you going to resolve the doping issue in Russia?
An investigation is underway, we await its conclusions. Doping issues are managed at the IAAF by an independent commission. She does her job on her own and makes her own decisions, without consulting us or having to report to the Council.
What do you think of the battle between Sebastian Coe and Sergei Bubka for your succession to the presidency of the IAAF?
In 2007, when I was asked who could succeed me, I answered Seb (Coe), Sergueï (Bubka) or Nawal (el Moutawakel). When the first two wanted to start, I told them to go for it. They are legitimate, but it is the federations which will decide.
Which one is your favorite?
If I had a favorite, I wouldn't tell you. I will not take a position before May 18, the deadline for submitting applications. Afterwards, I reserve the right to say which of the two seems better to me.
A question for you, the honorary member of the IOC. What do you think of Paris's proposed bid for the Summer Games in 2024?
Paris deserves to organize the Olympic Games in 2024. The Stade de France is a large athletics stadium. But the French must work on their candidacy.
